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The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move through main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers. Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

CTA Covers the Chicago Marathon from Start to Finish

October 6, 2011

The CTA provides extensive bus and rail service for all participants and viewers heading to the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 9. The marathon begins at 7:30 a.m., starting just north of Jackson on Columbus Drive with the course winding through multiple city neighborhoods.

CTA recommends customers attending the marathon purchase their farecards or Visitor Passes in advance with enough value for their return trips later in the day. This will help to decrease travel time and reduce lines.

CTA personnel will be on duty at select stations along the Blue, Red, Green, Brown, Pink and Orange lines and at major bus stops to assist customers and to provide travel information.

CTA will operate longer trains to accommodate expected crowds. Because bus routes in the vicinity of the marathon also will be impacted with intermittent reroutes or delays due to lane closures, CTA recommends customers allow extra travel time.

RAIL SERVICE

Blue, Orange, Pink and Red Lines

Longer trains will operate on each rail line during marathon hours. More frequent service will operate on the Red Line.

Brown Line

Brown Line service into the Loop will begin earlier than normal, with the first train departing Kimball at 5 a.m., providing service to downtown. Longer trains will operate during marathon hours.

Green Line

Green Line service will begin earlier than normal, with the first trains departing from Harlem/Lake at 5:30 a.m., 63rd/Ashland at 5:20 a.m. and 63rd/Cottage Grove at 5:40 a.m. Longer trains will operate during marathon hours.

Orange Line

Orange Line service will begin at its regular Sunday start time; however, longer trains will begin operation at 5:30 a.m. from Midway.

Purple Line

Purple Line service will begin earlier than normal, with the first train departing from Linden at 5:30 a.m., providing service to Howard where customers can transfer to the Red Line for service to downtown.

BUS SERVICE

CTA will operate earlier service on the #3 King Drive bus route between McCormick Place and Chicago/Mies van der Rohe from 5:30 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. to accommodate runners and spectators.

During the course of the race, there will be intermittent reroutes along several CTA bus routes. The affected routes are:

#3 King Drive

#56 Milwaukee

#4 Cottage Grove

#60 Blue Island/26th

#6 Jackson Park Express

#62 Archer

#8 Halsted

#65 Grand

#9 Ashland

#66 Chicago

#10 Museum of Science & Industry

#70 Division

#11 Lincoln/Sedgwick

#72 North

#12 Roosevelt

#73 Armitage

#14 Jeffery Express

#74 Fullerton

#18 16th/18th

#76 Diversey

#20 Madison

#77 Belmont

#21 Cermak

#124 Navy Pier

#22 Clark

#126 Jackson

#29 State

#145 Wilson/Michigan Express

#35 35th

#146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express

#36 Broadway

#147 Outer Drive Express

#44 Wallace/Racine

#151 Sheridan

#50 Damen

#152 Addison

Reroutes can be expected in the downtown area from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.; on the North Side from 6:30 a.m. until noon; on the West Side from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.; and on the South Side from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. All times are approximate and detours will be determined by Chicago Police and CTA supervisory personnel.

PARK & RIDE FACILITIES

To avoid traffic congestion, customers can combine the convenience of driving with the economical savings of public transit by using CTA Park & Ride facilities. Parking is available for approximately 6,000 cars at CTA’s 17 Park & Ride facilities, mainly at rail terminals, throughout the CTA system.

Park & Ride stations are listed on CTA’s system map and on the CTA’s web site at transitchicago.com. Customers may also obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 312-836-7000.

VIEWING AREAS NEAR CTA STATIONS

Viewing areas are designated near CTA rail stations at nine points along the marathon route for those interested in following the progress of the race.

First Viewing Area – Monroe (Red Line) Station – Race Start, Mile #2. Board a Red Line train and exit at Monroe. Walk a half-mile east toward Grant Park.

Second Viewing Area – Chicago (Red Line) Station – Miles #3.5 and #11.5. Board a Red Line train and exit at Chicago. Walk three blocks west to LaSalle Street.

Third Viewing Area – Addison (Red Line) Station – Mile #7.75. Board a Red Line train and exit at Addison. Walk four blocks east to Broadway.

Fourth Viewing Area – Sedgwick (Brown Line) Station – Mile #10.25. Board a Brown Line train and exit at Sedgwick Street. Walk a half-block north to North Avenue.

Fifth Viewing Area – UIC-Halsted (Blue Line) Station – Miles #16 and 16.5. Board a Blue Line train and exit at UIC-Halsted. Use the Halsted Street or Morgan Street exits. Walk two blocks north on Morgan Street to Adams Street to view runners at Mile 16 in Greektown. Use the Halsted exit to view runners at Mile 16.5.

Sixth Viewing Area – 18th (Pink Line) Station – Mile #19. Board a Pink Line train and exit at 18th. Walk one block east to Ashland to Mile 19 in Pilsen.

Seventh Viewing Area – Halsted (Orange Line) Station – Mile #20.5. Board an Orange Line train and exit at Halsted.

Eighth Viewing Area – 35th-Bronzeville-IIT (Green Line) Station – Mile #23. Board a Green Line train and exit at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT. Use either the 34th Street or 35th Street exit.

Ninth Viewing Area – Sox-35th (Red Line) Station – Mile #23.25. Board a Red Line train and exit at Sox-35th. Walk two blocks east on 35th Street to State Street.

FARE INFORMATION

Cash Fare (Bus Only): $2.25

Transit Card: $2.00 (bus) / $2.25 (rail)

Stored value Transit Cards can be purchased with cash at any CTA rail station. Transit Cards also allow two additional rides in two hours on another bus and/or train to complete your trip for an additional 25 cents. Transit Cards also are available online at transitchicago.com. Packs of pre-valued Transit Cards are available at neighborhood Currency Exchanges and select Dominick’s or Jewel stores and CVS Pharmacies.

Visitor Passes

Unlimited ride Visitor Passes also are available. A one-day pass ($5.75) offers 24 hours of unlimited riding from the first use; three-day ($14) and seven-day ($23) passes are also available. Visitor Passes cannot be shared or recharged. Visitor Passes are sold at vending machines accepting cash and major credit cards at O’Hare Airport, Midway Airport, Union Station, and the Chicago/State, Cumberland and Rosemont CTA rail stations and the Water Works Visitor Information Center.

Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA or visit transitchicago.com for advance sales and other sales outlets. Transit Cards and Visitor Passes will be sold at the CTA booth at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8.